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“Helena Danbury?”
Shit.
I turned. “Hi, Jessica.”
Her gaze dropped to my shorts and T-shirt then up to my hair, which was in a braid that felt lopsided and frayed at this point. My fine hair never stayed neat without a ton of product.
Jessica looked much like her former model mother. Gleaming dark hair smoothed straight save for a few curled strands. She wore a white maxi dress that showed off her tall, trim form and held a champagne glass with a perfect strawberry floating inside.
“I heard about your…unfortunate situation at the Winslow wedding, but dear God. You’re still here?”
I lifted my chin. “Yes.”
“Have you been playing in the dirt?” She peered at my bags and quickly moved back. “Did you pick up a hobby after Reid dumped you?”
“Jessica, dear. You are ignoring your… Oh.” Daphne Washington came around the bend in the path. She wore a tailored pant suit in a soft yellow that suited her coloring and stature as queen—err, mother of the bride. “Helena? What’s going on here?”
Before I could open my mouth, my heart sunk. “Hello, Mother.”
Diana Danbury stood just behind Daphne in a slim, moss green spring dress with a glass of wine in her hand. She was fair like me, but she kept her icy blond hair short in a severe wedge cut that showed off her long neck. However, there was nothing fragile about her. Even if she barely weighed one hundred pounds.
“I had a feeling I’d find you hiding here, but…like this? And what are you wearing?” She didn’t bother to hide the sneer.
I heard footfalls behind me. “Helena, there you are! Bells has been looking all over for you. The caterer needs a final…” Cara trailed off. “I’m sorry! I didn’t realize you were talking with someone.”
Suddenly, my mother’s face contorted to reflect outrage. “Are you working here? Working in the dirt?”
My hands shook with the tight grip I had on my bags.
The murmur of conversation quieted as my mother’s voice rose. She pushed her wine glass at Cara, who took it with a startled glance at me. “Helena?”
“It’s fine, Cara. I’ll be inside in a minute. Let Bells know I’ll handle it.”
“You most certainly will not. You’ll go upstairs and change into something suitable right now.” My mother’s voice was whip sharp. “I’m sorry, Daphne.” Her face flushed as she stole a look at Jessica. She was smiling behind her glass as she took a leisurely sip as if she was watching an entertaining movie.
“I hope you enjoy Jessica’s luncheon.” My voice was stiff. “But I have work to do. We’ll chat later.”
“Work?You can’t work here.”
I swallowed as people started moving forward to see what the commotion was. “I most certainly can and will be.” I straightened my shoulders and looked directly at my mother, ignoring the rest of the whispers. “I’ll be moving here within the month actually.”
“No Danbury is going to work at a dumpy orchard.”
I set my bags lightly on the flagstone and stepped toward her. “First of all, no part of this orchard is dumpy as the Washingtons can attest since their daughter’s wedding will be here.”
My mother’s face shifted into a shocked expression as she glanced at Daphne, who’d stiffened at the insult as well. “What I mean is that it’s not suitable for someone of our family name to work at.”
“Oh, and why is that? Beyond the fact that this place is stunning and becoming the favored destination wedding for many people from Manhattan? Or that I love working here. That I love the people here who have made me feel more like family than my own ever has? Or is it that I actually want to do something I love and have a sense of accomplishment at the end of my day?”
“Accomplishment comes with dirt on your knees like some day laborer?” My mother’s voice was shrill. I could see her looking around, embarrassment tinging her cheeks like red flags.
“It often does, Mrs. Danbury. A little dirt under your nails is a small price to pay for the pride of having a business we love.”
Beckett’s deep voice came from behind me.
I held my hand out behind me and he laced his calloused, perfect fingers in mine. He came up to stand with me.
“Now it all makes sense.” My mother’s face smoothed into serene lines and she straightened her dress. “I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed that things didn’t work out with Reid.”
